Binaural audio wave pick-up for musical instruments



May 31, 1960 J. GENTUL 2,933,419

BINAURAL AUDIO WAVE PICK-UP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Dec. 27, 1956 45' mcaawuouss 46 43 57 +3 [X IA I2; B '4' 5 1 TJACK GE l l L l L r: BYEM J. GENTUL May 31, 1960 BINAURAL AUDIO WAVEPICK-UP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1956 HG.IO 2 BAS S O A B I BASS OSC.

TREBLE osc FIG. 8 JACK 'E'VLHRP BY M United States Patent BINAURAL AUDIOWAVE PICK-UP FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Jack Gentul, Hillside, NJ.,assignor to Sano Corporation, Irvington, NJ., a corporation of NewJersey Filed Dec. 27, 1956, Ser. No. 630,798

8 Claims. (Cl. 84 1.04)

This invention relates generally to musical instruments and moreparticularly to a Binaural audio wave pick-up for -an accordion adaptedto collect and deliver treble frequency and bass frequency musical tonessimultaneously, distinctly and independently to an amplification meanswhereby an undistorted amplified reproduction of the full range offrequencies of the treble section of the instrument and a limited rangeof frequencies from the bass section of the instrument will be obtained.

The term Binaural when used in this specification shall; mean that thetreble frequencies and the bass frequencies can be picked up anddelivered to the amplification means simultaneously and independently ofeach other. i

It is known that a pick-up can be attached to a musical instrument andparticularly to an accordion. This pickup acts to collect and relay theaudio or sound waves from the musical instrument to some suitable typeof amplifier. I V a It has been found by reason of the radio frequencytransmission characteristics of the various known pickups and amplifiersthat after amplification a portion of the full: range of treblefrequencies is delivered very poorly or so distorted that the musicalcomposition being rendered is affected.

The present invention overcomes this problem by providing a Binauralpick-up for a musical instrument having'independent circuits, for thetreble and bass section of the. instrument which when combined withsuitable amplification means will produce a minimum amount of distortionof the full rangeof frequencies available from the treble section of theinstrument and also will act to limit the range of frequencies deliveredby the bass section of the instrument on which it is attached, thuspermitting maximum clarity and quality of tone combinations in theamplified reproduction of these musical tones.

In addition, an important musical effect, the tremolo, canbe included inthis circuit and its operation controlled as desired by the musicianwithout affecting the basic Binauralfunction of the pick-up.

Accordingly, it is an object of the presentinvention to provide apick-up for a musical instrument with a" circuit adapted to delivertreble and bass frequencies independently of each other, and to permittremolo op eration when desired.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become evident fromthe following description with reference to the accompanying drawings,in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of an accordion partly broken awayshowing a preferred form of internal pickup circuit applied thereto. f I

.Figure 2 is an exploded view of an accordion taken from the bottom endthereof and showing the invention.

Figure 3 is' a partial section through several folds of the bellows"showing the electrical current coniductingwire alid means for holding itto the folds of the bellows.

2,938,419 Patented May 31, 1960 Figure 4 is a side elevation of one ofthe connecting means disposed on the accordion head.

Figure 5 is an end view of the connecting means.

Figure 6 is a side view of the male element of the connecting means.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic sketch of the pick-up circuit.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic sketch of another type switch for thepick-up.

Figure 9 shows an accordion with an external picloup applied thereto.

Figure. 10 is a cross-section taken through a portion of the accordionhaving the external pick-up shown. in Figure 9. V

The accordion 1. shown in Figures land 2 of the drawings isconventional, such accordions being easily purchasable on the openmarket. It includes a treble section generally designated 2 housing thetreble reed blocks 3, a bass section 4 housing the bass reed blocks 5,and a bellows element 6 all detachably connected to each other in anysuitable manner as is well known in the art.

The treble section 2 has a tone collecting head 7 having striking keys 8which are connected to-the elements of the treble reed blocks 3.Similarly the bass section has button elements 9 connected to theelements of the bass reed blocks 5. When the musician pumps the trebleand bass sections towards each other by striking the keys 8 and buttons9, reeds will be actuated to vibrate and produce the desired tones ofthe musical composition.

The arrangement for picking these tones up can be connected internallyas is shown in Figures 1 and 2, or externally as is shown in Figures 8and 9 of the drawing. In either arrangement, however, the circuit willbe identical.

Thus, referring to Figure '1, the pick-up includes a plurality of spacedtreble microphones 10, 11 and 12 connected in the tone-collecting head7'; A'bass microphone 13 is mounted in the bass section adjacent thebass reed blocks 5.

Volume and tone controls for these microphones and for an auxiliarysinging microphone 14 are also located in the treble tone collectinghead 7 and are diagrammatically illustrated along with the microphonesfor clarity. They are conventional rheostats, well known in thecommunication art. Volume control 15 and tone control 16 are for thetreble microphones; volume control 17 and tone control 18 are for thebass microphone, and volume control 19 is for the singing microphone.These controls are connected into the'circuit of the pickup as ishereinafter described.

A three-pole, three-position switch 20 is also diagrammaticallyillustrated and will be more fully described with reference tothepick-up circuit and its operation. The switch 20 communicates betweenthe pick-up circuit and the three-wire input receptacle 21 which in turncommunicates'with the jack element 22 of the three-lineamplifier'conduit 23. i

Since the bass microphone 13 is disposed'in 'thebass section 4, whilethe volume and tone controls 17 and '18 are in the treble section 2, itis necessary to connect the bass microphone 13 into the pick-up circuitby means 0 a current conducting line 25.

Figures 1 and 2 show that this current conductingiline 25 extendsthrough the bellows 6 being connected at:

extend and retract with. the pumping of the bellows dur f mg theoperation of the accordion. .It is placed-"at the :2

bottom because it will be under minimum movement duringtheusualoperationof.this instrument. To facilitatethe separation of thetreble section, the bass section and the bellows, male connectorelements 28 and 29 are provided at the respective ends of the electriccurrent conductingwire 25 and. these elements are adapted to engagefemale connectonelements30 and-31 and .their. respective brackets. 32and33- locatedon the'- treble section 2 and bass.scction.4,. as is.clearly'shown in Figures 1, 4, and 6 of the drawings.

A line 34 connects-the bass-.microphone 13'to the female connector 31and a line 35 connects the female connector 30 tothe volumez control .15in the main pick up circuit to complete the connecting'circuit for thebass microphone 13.

Pick-up circuit Correlating. Figures 1, and' 2,with. the .circuitdiagrammatically illustrated in Figure 7, the bass microphone 13.picksup. the tones fromthe. actuated elements of. the bassreed blocks Sandthey are passed by the connecting lines above described to the bassvolume control 17.

The. bass tone is controlled by the bass tone controlt18- tones'received from the elements of. the" treble reed.

blocks 3 through line 44 to the treble: volume control 1.5.

resistor 45. As in the bass tone control, the treble tone control isconnected to ground through condenser 46 to obtain the desiredoperation. led. through conduit 47 to a second pole 48 of the threepolethree-position switch 20.

The externally disposed singing microphone 14 is con: nected through thesinging microphone jack. 49 and connccting line 50 to its volume control19. This circuit. is connected by line 51 to line 47 and tones; from.this microphone are delivered. with the treble frequency tones to theswitch 20.

This :circuit as now described: clearly connects :the bass tone: circuitand the treble: tone; circuit. to-independentr poleswof'fthe switch 20.This switch 20 acts to maintain these circuits" independent, as theoutput contacts which communicate withthepoles 43 and 48 respectivelyhave independent lines. 52 and 53 in turn connected to the three-wayreceptacle 21. As indicated above, this receptacle: communicates withthethree-prong jack 22 of the three-circuit amplifier. line 23.

By aligning the lines and the respective connections, it is believedclear that the treble and bass frequency tones'can be delivered throughthe respective treble and bass circuits to the amplifierdiagrammatically shown at 5.4 and inturn from the amplifier to thespeaker assembly also: diagrammatically shown at 55. The" amplifier andspeekerzelements are not more fully described as they are I wellknowninthe artand relate to'the present invention only insofar as they areknown elements'in the combina= tion for: producing the results of thepresent invention.

The amplifier'54 will be of the type which'includ'es-apix-amplifyingcircuit for each. of the respective treble and hassrcircuits and anoscillating circuit forproducing' the tremolo effect on reproduction ashereinafter described. The-speaker assembly 55 consists of the usuallyadinstable-= two speaker combinations for high and-low frequency tones.

The oscillator circuit from the amplifier is connected" iasoue ofithecircuit lines in the main amplifierconduit 23;-,j ack;22,- receptacle21' and-line 56 to thethird pole SI ofi-thessWitchI 20.

The treble tone. control. 16 is decoupled'from the: treble volumecontrol 15 only by means. of .the connecting This entire. circuit. isnow.'

. tremolo: effect will. occur.

Since the switch 20 is a three-position switch, in the positions. ofthe. respective output connections marked A, the treble and basscircuits are open and the oscillating circuit is grounded. This is theoff position of the switch. In the positions marked B, both the trebleand bass circuits are closed and the oscillating circuit is grounded.Thus, only trebleand bass frequency tones will be transmittedindependently to the amplifier and no In; the position marked C thetreble and basszcircuitsare. closed: and the oscillating circuit isopened. In this. position the treble andbass frequency tones-aretransmittedl independently and the tremolo effect is produced on theserespective tones as they are reproducedby theamplifier.

Modifiedcircuit for independent tremolo It may be desirable to producetremolo effect on either the treble frequencies or the bass frequenciesonly. This can be accomplished by modifying the switch as indicated inFigure 8 of the drawings and providing two oscillator circuits in theamplifier; The'treble and bass circuits are identical withthat abovedescribed for the three-pole, three-position switch.

Thus, Figure-8 shows a 4-pole, 5-position switch generally designated60. In this-switch 60, the treble line 47 would connect to pole 61 andthe bass line 42 to pole; 62. The-outlet connections of these respectivecircuits willbe'connected by lines 63 and 64 to their respectiveconnections on a 4-way receptacle-65'which communi cates with the4-prong jack and 4-line amplifier conduit (not' shown). Two of theamplifier lines will carry the treble and bass signals; the other twolines will be from the oscillator circuit and these lines. will connectto poles.

66 and 67 of theswitch, through their respective connecting conduits 68and 69L In the positions marked A ofthe respective output connections ofthe switch 60, the treble and bass circuits are" open and theoscillating circuits are grounded. This is the off position of theswitch; hence, no amplification or tremolo effect results; In thepositions B',"'thetreble circuit is closed, the bass circuit is open,the treble oscillating circuit is'open and the bass oscillating, circuitclosed. Treble frequency tones are amplified with a tremolo effect andbass frequency tones are not reproduced. In the positions C the treblecircuit is 0pm,.v

could be utilized with the Binaural circuit for producing other modifiedarrangements without departingvfrom the scopeof the present invention.

External pick-up Figures 9 and 10 show the form oftheinventionwh'errappliedto the-external portionof a musical instrument.

In: this. formof the inventionthe same isv shownasnappliedi. to anaccordion in which the treble. microphonestcoact' withasoundescapeopening generally designated 70'and the bass microphone in directcommunication with the elements of the bass reed blockS.

The pick-up circuit is disposed in anelongated housing which may be madeof any suitable material, althoughit'has been found that plastic with ametallic coating. on its inner surface is. highly desirablev for suchpirpose: by

reason of the cosmetic. appearance. that it gives whenattached to thehead 2 of the accordion. in addition, this type material is less costlythan a metallic housing.

The housing is provided with one open side which is closed by aremovable perforated closure sheet 81 having sufiicient perforationstherein especially in the central portion to permit the passageof audiowaves therethrough. The pick-up circuit in the housing is not more fullyde scribed because it is identical with the'circuit above described whenthe pick-up is to be mounted inside the housing. Hence, all that appearsin Figure 9 are the external knobs 82, 83, 84, 85, and 86 for therespective variable rheostats 115, 16, 17, 18 and 19 shown in Figure lof the drawings.

Figure 9 further shows the knob 87 of the switch element 20 connectingjack 22 and line 23 from the amplifier 54.

Figure shows a jack element 90 and a connecting jack 91 which is on oneend of the line 35 which leads to the female connector 30 as abovedescribed for the accordion structure where the pick-up element isinside of the tone collecting chamber. This jack element 90 and 91provides means for collecting and conducting the audio waves received bythe bass microphone into the pick-up circuit as above described.

The removable perforated closure sheet 81 will be sufficiently strong toaflix the housing to the exterior of the head 2 of the accordion. Thus,aflixed to the underside of the perforated closure sheet 81 by anysuitable manner such as gluing, is a vibration and shock-resistantmaterial such as sponge rubber 82 which covers all but an opening 83therein. The sponge rubber is in turn affixed similarly by gluing orother suitable manner to the exterior of the accordion at the treblereed end thereof or on the exterior of the head 2. The head will bemodified so that it will have a suitable escape opening 70 also formedtherein, which opening will be in substantial alignment and coincidentwith the opening in the sponge rubber element 82. Thus the sound escapeopening 70 and the oval-shaped opening 83' in the sponge rubber 82creates a passage which allows the collected tones in the tonecollecting head 7 to pass freely into the elongated housing 80 throughthe perforated closure 81 where it can be picked up by the microphones10, 11. and 12 to be transmitted through the pick-up circuit to theamplifier in the manner described for the internal form of the presentinvention.

To reduce distortion and excess unnecessary noises a piece of felt 92.is afiixed also by gluing or in any other suitable manner to the innersunface of the treble collecting chamber 7 about the oval-shaped soundescape opening 70 formed therein when the external pick-up is attachedto the head 2 in the manner above described. This mutes or controls thevibrations so that when the audio waves are amplified only the clearand, undistorted tones will be heard.

While this form of the invention has been illustrated and described, itis obvious that those skilled in the art may vary the detail of theconstruction as well as the precise arrangement of arts withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention and therefore it will beunderstood that the invention is not to be limited to the specificconstruction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may be widelymodified within the invention as defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an accordion having a treble reed block section, a bass reed blocksection and a detachable bellows connecting said treble section to saidbass section the combination therewith of a pick-up means, anindependent treble circuit in said pick-up means for receiving anddelivering treble tones from said treble reed block section, anindependent bass circuit in said pick-up means for receiving anddelivering bass tones from said bass reed block section, amulti-position switch means for maintaining separation between saidtreble and bass tones, said multi-position switch means having aplurality of input connections and a plurality of output connections,said treble and bass circuits connected to input connectionindependently of each other, an amplifier having a speaker assembly,said output connections connected to said am-' plifier, and said switchmeans adapted in at least one posia bass reed block section, and adetachable bellows con-- meeting said treble section to said basssection the combination therewith of, a pick-up means, an independenttreble circuit in said pick-up means for receiving and delivering trebletones fro msaid treble reed block section, an independent bass circuitin said pick-up means for receiving and delivering bass tones from saidhas reed block section, a multi-position switch means for maintainingseparation between said treble and bass tones, a plurality of inputconnections and a plurality of output connections on said switch, atleast one of said input connections connected to the treble circuit, atleast one of said input connections connected to said bass circuit, anamplifier having a speaker assembly, at least one of said out-putconnections on said switch for delivering treble tones to saidamplifier,at least one of said output connections on said switch for deliveringbass tones to said amplifier, and said switch adapted in at least oneposition to transmit both treble and bass tones simultaneously andindependently of said other from the treble and bass circuit in saidpick-up means to said amplifier.

3. In an accordion as claimed in claim 2 wherein said amplifier includesan oscillating circuit, at least one other output connection connectedto said oscillating circuit, and said switch means having at least oneposition to permit the oscillator to produce a tremolo effect on thetreble and bass tones delivered to said amplifier.

4. In an accordion as claimed in claim 2 wherein said amplifierincludes, a first oscillating circuit for treble tones deliveredthereto, and a second oscillating circuit for bass tones deliveredthereto, at least two other output connections connecting said first andsaid second oscillating circuits to said switch means, said switch meanshaving switch positions to permit said first and second oscillatingcirciut to produce a tremolo effect independently or simultaneously onthe treble and bass tones delivered to said amplifier.

5. In an accordion as claimed in claim 2 wherein said bass circuitincludes a microphone disposed adjacent the bass reed block section, anda current conducting wire disposed to extend through said bellows toconnect said bass microphone to the bass circuit of the pick-up means.

6. In an accordion as claimed in claim 5 wherein said current conductingwire has detachable means adjacent the respective ends of the detachablebellows to permit easy disassembly of the treble and bass reed sectionsfrom the bellows.

7. In an accordion having a treble reed block section, a bass reed blocksection, a detachable bellows, connecting said treble section to saidbass section, and a treble tone collecting head formed on said treblesection, the combination of a pick-up means disposed to coact with saidtreble tone collecting chamber, an independent treble circuit in saidpick-up means for receiving and delivering treble tones from said treblereed block section, an independent bass circuit in said pick-up meansfor receiving and delivering bass tones from said bass reed blocksection, including at least one microphone mounted adjacent the bassreed block section, a multi-position switch means for maintainingseparation between said treble and bass tones, said multi-positionswitch means having a plurality of input connections and a plurality ofoutput connections, said treble and bass circuits connected to inputconnections independent of each other, an amplifier having a speakerassembly said output connections connected to said amplifier whereby inat least one position said switch will 7 8 deliver. both treble and,bass tones simultanenusly and References Cited in the file of thispatent independently from said treble andbass circuitsinflsaid. UNITED.STATES. PATENTS pickrupmeansm said amplifier, and acurrent conducting2,001,392 Mi 14, 193 5 wire connecting said microphonato the basscircuit-dis-- 2,485,538 Rowe; Oct. 18; 1949 posed to extend through saiddetachable-bellows. 2,583,566 Hanert Jan. 29, 1952 8. In an accordion asclaimed in.c1aim 7'whercinsaid" 2,716,370. Sano Aug.- 30,- 1955currentwconductingzwire includes, detachable means ad- 2,812,.679' KunzNov. 12, 1957 jacent the respectiveends of the-detachable:bellows-to:2,821,379 Sam) 1958 permit easydisassembly of the treble" and bassreedblock 10 FOREIGN PATENTS P the belbws- 657320 Great Britain Sept.19, 1951

